Naruto: Konoha’s Trickster, Starting as the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki Chapter 345: Orochimaru is Ready to Run

"Hehehe, just as I thought. The Jōnin leading the Takigakure team and that kid nad Yugito are both your people."

"Although you hid it well, Kazuyama, don't underestimate ."

Orochimaru chuckled midway through, his voice filled with arrogance.

It was only natural. After all, Orochimaru was one of Konoha's main pillars and a top scientific expert—no one would dare criticize him for being a little arrogant. Before Minato Namikaze appeared as the destined one, Orochimaru had been the best candidate to succeed the Hokage.

"Ha, I have to say, sensei, your observation skills are impressive."

"How did you find out?"

"I disguised myself pretty well, didn't I?"

Though he'd been discovered, Kazuyama wasn't worried at all. If it were serious, ANBU would already be questioning him.

He had acted cautiously. Still, he was curious—he thought he'd covered his tracks well enough.

"Hehehe, a few days ago, I sensed that war was about to break out."

"I set up many secret sentries around the village. When you flew out with those two, you just happened to land right within my surveillance."

"How did I know? That's how."

As Orochimaru spoke, he raised his hand. A small snake slithered onto it, flicking its tongue.

The snake stared at Kazuyama without moving. It didn't take long for Kazuyama to realize—this wasn't a snake; it was a living surveillance device!

"Tsk, tsk, old dogs are still the sharpest. Sensei, you must really be the Hokage's apprentice."

"The old man invented the Telescope Technique, and you invented the Group Snake Surveillance Technique."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, birds of a feather flock together, huh."

Kazuyama teased, shaking his head. People really did attract similar people.

Hearing him, Orochimaru couldn't hold it in anymore. This was the most he had laughed in days.

You had to understand—right now, the worst person in Konoha on the surface was the brat standing in front of him.

With the Transparent Escape Technique, Kazuyama did nothing good. Compared to him, Orochimaru and even Hiruzen Sarutobi were only a little bad.

After all, no matter how bad Orochimaru was, he wouldn't go peeping, and no matter how bad Hiruzen Sarutobi was, he wouldn't perform human experints, right?

Kazuyama was like a fusion of Orochimaru, Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and Tsunade—gambling, prostitution, drugs—you na it, he covered it all alone.

His teacher Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't a good person. His apprentice Orochimaru wasn't a good person. His grand-apprentice Kazuyama was even worse.

"Kazuyama, hearing that from you... that's really sothing."

"Alright, enough about that."

"I've already packed all my research materials."

"And I've arranged for a lot of things to be smuggled out of the Land of Fire, headed for a town near the Land of Waterfalls border."

Though Orochimaru's expression remained unchanged, Kazuyama could still detect a faint sense of reluctance in his words and actions.

After all, he'd grown up with Konoha—it was natural to feel so attachnt when suddenly leaving.

"Leaving during warti, huh?"

"That's actually a good idea. It'll save a lot of trouble."

"But sensei, how do you plan to convince the Daimyō of the Land of Waterfalls? If you just defect and head there, it might get ssy."

Every nation's highest authority lay with its Daimyō. Only by securing their approval could one truly rest easy.

In the original story, Orochimaru had gone to the Land of Rice Fields and simply bribed the Daimyō with a massive sum.

But now, things were even more complicated.

Because of Kazuyama's interference, Orochimaru had lost Danzō's backing. Scientific research required a lot of money, and without Danzō as a financial supporter, Orochimaru had to fund most of his experints himself.

Although as an elite Jōnin he had completed plenty of high-paying S- and A-rank missions, most of those earnings had been drained by his ongoing research.

"It certainly is a tricky problem."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.

Kazuyama folded his arms across his chest, pondering for a mont before speaking.

"Maybe we can trade technology. The Land of Waterfalls might be small, but they definitely crave more power. We could offer them so basic tech—like pharmaceutical research."

"You know these Daimyōs—they care a lot about their health. And it doesn't even need to be top-tier dicine."

"If you can give them sothing to... rejuvenate them? Last until morning? I guarantee they'll worship you like a god."

"Maybe they won't just welco you into the Land of Waterfalls—they might even fund your research handsoly."

Orochimaru thought it over carefully.

He realized that Kazuyama's suggestion was actually very sound.

He nodded slowly. These high-and-mighty officials weren't moved by ordinary things, but what Kazuyama said—now that was truly important.

After all, enjoying life was what they valued most...

"That's a feasible plan, but we need to find a middleman to contact the Daimyō first."

"After all, this isn't sothing we can just do on a whim."

Kazuyama grinned. If it were a Daimyō from another country, it might have been difficult—but the Land of Waterfalls?

Easy. The Village Head of Takigakure was dead, and now the Daimyō of the Land of Waterfalls was desperate for the village to choose a new leader who would fully align with him.

"Leave this to . Once the Chūnin Exams are over, I'll notify Yahiko and the others."

"Yahiko?"

Orochimaru softly repeated the na...

"Sounds familiar, right? He's originally from Agakure. You three t him before—Jiraiya even volunteered to take care of them."

"Sensei, there's a lot behind this. I'll explain it to you later—it's a complicated situation."

At Kazuyama's reminder, Orochimaru imdiately recalled that rainy day.

Three little brats...

He hadn't expected that his disciple would gather those three together. Back then, he had even considered eliminating them...

Was this fate? Hehehe...

"It seems the threads of destiny are silently weaving everything together."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Kazuyama scratched his head, knowing full well that Orochimaru must be reminiscing about those old mories.

"Anyway, as long as we achieve our goal, it doesn't matter. Those brats have endless potential. With them in Takigakure, things will go a lot more smoothly."

Orochimaru gave a slight nod of agreent.

"That's right. Let them follow their own paths for a while. In the anti, we have plenty of preparations to take care of. But Kazuyama, make sure to move quickly on contacting the Daimyō."

"Don't worry, Sensei. It's just the Daimyō's manor. Don't forget, I'm a famous ninja now."

"I'm sure the Daimyō won't refuse the special gift we've prepared."

Kazuyama's eyes glead with confidence.